The Labor enquirer., 1887-09-24

alienable rights, ws aim af ~ = l116o ~
system which compels them 20 ~ thSlr
fellow creaturesfor the use of oodso ~ - ~
and permits monopoliee TO depfive labof of
its natural opportunities for. enptoyment
thus filling the land withtrampsand paupen,
and bringing about an unnatural compefl-
tion, which tends to reduce wages TO itarva
tion rates and to make tho wealth-pfoducsr
the industrial slave Of tn. % who grow ric6
by his toll
Holding, moreover. that the advantages
arising from social growth and improvement
belong TO society al large, We aim At the abol-
ition of the system which akes such bench
cent inventions as the railroad and telegraph
means for the oppression Of the people and
the aggrandizement of an arist0cracy Of
wealth and power.
We declare the true purpose Of government
10 be the maintenance Of that sacred right Of
property which gives to every one opportu-
nifty to employ his labor and SCI urity that he
shall enjoy its fruits; TO prevent the strong
from depressing the weak and the unscrupu-
lous from robbing the honest; andto do for
| ehC Cqudl bcnc4t W dil SoCil bui0Bo - C8o O0
better done by organized society than by in
dividuals and we aim at the abolition OF all
laws which give to any class Of citizensan ad-
vantage either judicial, financial, industrial
or political, that are not equally shared by
all others.
We call upon all who seek the emancipation
oflabor and who would make the American
Union and its component states democratic
commonwealth Of really free and independ-
ent citizens, to ignore all minor differences
and join with us in organizing . great ma
tional paaty on this broad platform Of nat
ural right and equal justice.
We do not aim at securing any forced
equality in the distribution Of wealth. We
do not propose that the state shall attempt to
control production, conduct distribution, or
in anywise interfere with the equal rights OF
others. Nor do we propose that the state
shall take possession of land and either work
1t or rent 1t out.
What we propose is not the disturbing Of
any man in his holding or title, but by abol.
ishing alltaxes on industry or Its products
to leave TO the producer the fall fruits of his
exertion, and by taxation OF land values to
the exclusion OF improvements, to devote to
the common use those values which, arising
not from exertioH of the individual, but from
growth Of society, belong to the community
as whole. This Increased taxation Of land
not according to its area, but according to its
value. must, while relieving working farmers
and small homestead owners OF the undue
burdens now imposed upon them, make II
unnr0fif IN holS lo nd =.
thus throw open abundantnpportunit fol
the employme mt of labor and the building VI
of homes.
While thus simplifying government, BY
doing away with horde Of officials required
by the presentsystem OF taxntion, with II,
Incentives 10 fRsud and corruption. we woult
farther promote Uncommon weal and fur
ther secure eqaab abrights'ofall by psacing un
der public coDfrol such agencies as are ii
their nature monopOlies. We would hav,
urnaunicipalities supply their tnhabitant
with water, light and heat; we would hasS
the egeneralgovernment issueafl money with
out The Intervention of banks; we would ad<
apostal telegraph system and postal saving
baEks to the postal service, ;and would As
sune public control and ovuership Of thos
iren roads which have become. highways O
modern commerce.
Whiiesdeclaring'the foregoing to be the fun
damental principles andatms of the Unite,
Labor Party, aBdwhile conscious that mo re
form IAN give efiectual andpermancnt relic
TO labor that docs not involve legal recogni
tion ofequal rights to natural opportunities
we nevertheless, as measures OF relief from
some of the evil effects of ignoring thos
rights, favor such legislation as may tend t.
reduce the hours of labor,t to prevent employ
ment of children Of tender years, to avoi,
competition of convict labor with honest in
dustry, to secure sanitary inspection of .tene
.ments, factories and mines, and TO puts
end to the abuse ofthe conspiracy DAVIS.
We desire also to simplify he procedure O
our courts, and diminish the expenses of le
gal proceedings, that the poor mag be plaeet
on an equality with the rich, and the Ions
delays whichsnow result in such scandalcui
miscarriages.o of justice may be prevented
and since the ballot ie the only means by
which, in our republic, the redresso OF politica
and social grievances lis to be sought, we
especially and emphatically declare for the
adoption ofwhat is known as the "Austra
liam system of voting" in order that the
effectual secrecy Of the ballot and the reiie
ofcandidatesfor publicoffices from the heavy
expenses now imposed upon them may pre-
vent brlberyand Intimidation, do away with
the practical discrimination In favor of the
rich and the unscrupulous, and lessen ahe
pernicious influence of money In politics.
| In support of these aims we solicit the co
operation ofall patriotic citizens who, sdck
Of the degradation OF. politics, desire by con
stitutional methods. to establish Justice, tc
preserve liberty, to extend thespirit of frater
nity, and to elevate humanity.
platform OF THE PROGRESSIVE
LABOR PARTY.
AT a meeting held in Webster
Hall, New York, September 8,
representatives from labor organi-
cations throughout the state o1
New York unanimously adopted
the following platform of princi-
pies:
a. n ~